I was parked in front of the mall wiping off my car. I had just come
from the car wash and was waiting for my wife to get out of work.
Coming my way from across the parking lot was what society would
consider a bum.
From the looks of him, he had no car, no home, no clean clothes, and no
money. There are times when you feel generous but there are other times
that you just don't want to be bothered. This was one of those "don't
want to be bothered times."
"I hope he doesn't ask me for any money," I thought.
He didn't.
He came and sat on the curb in front of the bus stop but he didn't look
like he could have enough money to even ride the bus.
After a few minutes he spoke.
"That's a very pretty car," he said.
He was ragged but he had an air of dignity around him. His scraggly
blond beard keep more than his face warm.
I said, "thanks," and continued wiping off my car.
He sat there quietly as I worked. The expected plea for money never
came.
As the silence between us widened something inside said, "ask him if
he needs any help." I was sure that he would say "yes" but I held true
to the inner voice.
"Do you need any help?" I asked.
He answered in three simple but profound words that I shall never forget.
We often look for wisdom in great men and women. We expect it from
those of higher learning and accomplishments.
I expected nothing but an
outstretched grimy hand. He spoke the three words that shook me.
"Don't we all?" he said.
I was feeling high and mighty, successful and important, above a bum
in the street, until those three words hit me like a twelve gauge
shotgun.
Don't we all?
I needed help. Maybe not for bus fare or a place to sleep, but I
needed help. I reached in my wallet and gave him not only enough for bus
fare, but enough to get a warm meal and shelter for the day. Those
three little words still ring true. No matter how much you have, no matter
how much you have accomplished, you need help too. No matter how little you
have, no matter how loaded you are with problems, even without money or
a place to sleep, you can give help.
Even if it's just a compliment, you can give that.
You never know when you may see someone that appears to have it all.
They are waiting on you to give them what they don't have. A different
perspective on life, a glimpse at something beautiful, a respite from
daily chaos, that only you through a torn world can see.
Maybe the man was just a homeless stranger wandering the streets. Maybe
he was more than that.
Maybe he was sent by a power that is great and
wise, to minister to a soul too comfortable in themselves.
Maybe God looked down, called an Angel, dressed him like a bum, then said, "go minister to that man cleaning the car, that man needs help."
Don't we all?
Author Unknown
http://www.indianchild.com/inspiring_stories.htm
Replies
We are all out on the streets, just some hide it better than others.
WWWHHHEEEWWW!!! That one really brings it all home. So profound and SO true. I think of this each time I see someone homeless or, what seems to me at the time, without. you NEVER KNOW who or what you are interacting with when you see someone like that. He was actually "helping the help!"
Just beautiful , thank you for sharing .
Thank you Semile.. I love this story.. its strange, but I've actually been in that situation, not exactly the same as the fellow in your post but just in another situation.... where someone asked me if I needed any help and I have replied .. don't we all.. I actually found myself saying those very words myself a few times.. don't we all.. so this post rings like a bell for me.. talk about synchronicity ...
I hope all is well with you Semile..
much Love as always..
Luke.
yes we all, but few acknowledge.
Not all homeless people are uneducated, I used to be homeless for a few months with my daughter when my ex husband abandoned us. I was lucky to get a spot in a homeless shelter because Im a veteran but there are many homeless people not so lucky to have a place to sleep at night.
How profound.
Lovely, this brights up my morning. Thank you for sharing. =)
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